Siphon system



Nov.' 2s, 1944. M, H LUGHRmGE 2,363,539

' SYPHON SYSTEM Filed March 20', 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet l A f/5 N126 Nov.28,' 1944. M. H. LOUGHRIDGE 39353539 SYPHON SYSTEM Filed March 2o 1941 4sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR.

- Nov. 28, 1944.

M. H. LOUGHRIDGE SYPHON SYSTEM Filed March zo, 194* 4 Sheets-Sheet 3lNvENTOR.

NOV.` 28, 44. M H, LQUGHRlDGE 2,363,539

SYPHON SYSTEM Filed March 2O 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig. /o'

INVENTOR. w BY ATTORNEY.

" l Patented Nov. 28, 1944 UNITED STATES PAT Y SIrHoN SYSTEM n I MatthewH. Loughriage, Bogota, N. J.; Wiuiam'n; n Lockridge administrator ofsaidMatthew Ha Loughridge, `deceased n, i. n n Application March 2o,1941, seriaiNacseca I colaims. (o1. isi-106)` "Ihis "invention relatestosiphon systems and relates particularly to systems for the control ofthe `iiovv of a liquid in a Siphon. Anobject of the invention is` toautomatically balance the i now of the liquid through the Siphon whenthe liquid in the discharge tank is at a higher level than the liquid inthe receiving tank; another object of `the invention is to provide anair bell, With or Without a liquid trap, atthe discharge end `of theSiphon for controlling. the liquid flow therein; anotherobject of theinventionis to conn troller for starting thev Siphon; l

" Fig. Y shows, in section, the application of an electric coil and atimecontrolled circuit cn- Fig. 11 is `anothermodification shown invsection of the application ofan electric heating coil A.for startingthe Siphon, and t Fig. l2, is across `section on line' IZ--IZ `lof trolthe operation of the Siphon pneumatically i by the air pressure in abelltube `at the discharge end of the Siphon; another object of theinvention is to Iprovide a cylinder forming part of the` Siphon tubeadapted to be used in a vertical or in a horizontal position; -anotherobject of the invention `is, to operate the Starting cylinder of theSiphon by remote control; `another objectof the invention is to regulatethe ow of liquid through; the Siphon by the characteristic of the liquidVitself,'andanother object of the invention is to provide for control ofthe ow of liquidthrough the Siphon by` a bell tube applied to thevdischarge end of the Siphon and by `a valve controlled by thecharacteristic of the liquid itself;` i l Other objects of the inventionwill be more particularly understood from the following specification`and, from the accompanying drawings, in

`W`hich x i, i, Fig.1 is an elevation of a Siphon, partly Secf tioned,showing its application for the control of flow` of liquid from a tankat ahigher level to a i receiving at a lower level;

Fig. 2 is a Side elevation, with the cylinder sectioned, Showing theapparatus for starting the Siphon; i l f Fig.' `3 is a top plan view ofthe apparatus Shown inFig.2; i f

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of a siphonetube includinga bell tube onthe discharge end anda valve for controlling the discharge;

Fig. 5,is a cross section of the starting used in Fig. 4; i, l i n u""Fig. 6 is a vertical elevation, partly sectioned,

cylinder remotely operated n of'a valve mechanism controlling the`discharge i from the Siphon in the reverse orderfromFig. 4

Fig. '7 iS an elevation, partly sectioned,` of a valve controllingmechanism, placed on'ftopof the discharge end of the Siphon, and"` Fig.9 is .a diagram, showing aivalve mechanism in section for breaking theSiphon and electrically .controlled y Fig. 8 is an enlarged section online"88 of` Siphons are commonly usedfor the flow ofthe 'lo liquid froma higher to a lower level. The rate of i flov'vhor head, of the Siphondepends` upon thedify ference in levelbetween the discharge `tank andthe receiving tank. When the liquid `level in the `receiving tank risesto the same `height as the liquid level in the dischargetankgthe Siphonis n balanced and the iiow` ceases, `(but. the flow will be resumedagain if the liquidlevel ineither tank is raised above the level intheother tank. In

the present inventionqthe.,siphonis balanced Without raising the leveloftheliquid in the re` ceivng tank to the same height `as the level oi theliquid in the discharge tank. Thisis secured byapplying a bell tube: onthe dischargewend ofthe Siphon so that as the liquid level rises `in thereceivingtank `and s1`1rrounds,"this` tube the Vair pressure within "thetube' `is graduallyincreased, opposing the flow of the `liquidzandreducing the rate` of flow'until ultimately it Stopped- The position,orheight,` of the liquid in thereceiving'itank` at `which 'the flowStops depends mainly `upon the head of the Siphonand upon the length ofthe bell tube ,in which theair pressure is generated by, the` rising lliquid. This i position can readily be determined` so that, if `theliquid level" in the 'dischargetank is `kept `fairly constant, the levelto which the liquid will rise in overflow in the receiving tank'avoided.l

`the receiving tank can be predetermined and an Whenthe flow of theliquid through the Siphon is balanced, it can be started again byincreasing theheight of` the'liquid in tlie'discharge tank or bylowering the leveloi the liquidin the receiving tank So'that thesystemcan be used to automatic cally replace liquid drawn oit `from thereceiving tank.

liquid in the receiving tank is raised by agitation ENTOFFTCE' y.

when the liquid new through the `Siphon reaches a position of balanceand thelevel of the vided in 10 for thevalve 11, mounted on stem 18which is connected with` the bellows 85` and guided `by the cross braceB2 inthe `frame 80, IBI. The bellows 85` are secured fat 84 to theend`83 of the frame and a tube81 connects the bellowswith the bulb 188which is placed in theliquid. The

coil spring 8'6 normally holds"valver11 `open and the bellows 85operatein opposition to thisspring to close the valve The stem-11 4passesthrough fthe disc 19, screwed into the head 10 andhaving apertures 92for the flow of the liquid in the siphon.

`This disc is also provided with apertures `for the side 80 and the side`8| of the frame, which sides are bent over as `indicated at 93 and 94in Fig. 8

anism V.to be removedfrom` the `head 10 by unscrewingr the disc19 whenit isnot required. In

creases; itis also` restricted and may be stopped entirely as the bulb88 responds to the controlling characteristicof theliquid; i l Theapplication in Fig. `6 shows a valve 11 on ;valve seat `89controllingthe discharge orice of the Siphon.` In this application: thespring 90 tends torhold the valve 11 open andthelbellows 9| `operatingagainst the spring 90tends to hold the valve closed, subjectlto ,thecontrol by tube 81.

. In Fig. '1 the frame: 95 is` mounted on top'of the Vthe passages 20.lThe end of the elbowlllwjhas a `screw head 10 applied* thereto which isrecessed to` receive the end of the bell tube 22. A seat ispro`Thesiphon shownin Figs.f10,` 11 and fstarted by the direct applicationof an* electric `in assembly. This enablestheentire valvemech-` i `thisarrangement the -low through the .sip-honis `restricted as the airpressure? in the bell tube incurrent. VIn the `applicationshown theelectric current is used to `heat the air :in an expanded portion of theSiphon tube Which is sealed at both ends, and one of the sealsisa liquidseal or is of the` type that Will` lrelease thenpressure inthe Siphontube. The electric current may be applied,` as in Fig. 1l, totheheating` coilwhich heats the Siphon tube and thereby expands the air,orit may be applied inductively 'when alter- `hating `current is used, sothat lthe eddycurrents `generated in the portionof Athesiphon tubesubject to the inductive influence operates to heat the air in the tube.The" heated air expands and `bubbles outfrom the end of the tubeimmersed in the liquid, `thereby reducing the air in the Siphon tube `sothat when the heating effect is removed I i and the tube'cooledg thesubnormal pressure in the Siphon tube permitsthe Siphon to start.` The ycircuit of theelectriccoil maybe controlled by` a time` switch whichmaintains the heat for a predetermined intervalsufcient to start theSiphon.

" In Fig. 10.the receiving tank is provided `with fthepuot tank marroniwhiehthe liquid Overflows and which maintains theend I6| `of the Siphontube normally, closed by` the liquid |33.

discharge head 99 and the bellows185, throughthe Y stem 96, connectswith the Valve 98 and operates this -valve in oppositionto` thecoilspring 91 in accordance with ythe control that is connected with thetube 81 of the bellows.

`This invention may be used as a simplesiphon device indicated in Fig.1, which has no moving partsexcept the starting. plunger and whichautomatically controls the flow of liquid through itself by the belltube. To this may be applied the control to break the siphon. Withthebell tube control the valve control as indicated in Figs. 4 and 6`may be applied or the valve control `for thexdischarge orice of thesiphon may be applied by itself.

` transformed |45.

jos

` `Inthe diagram in Fig. an electropneum`atic 4 valve I I is used tocontrol the vent ||4 at thetop of the sip-hon tube `ThisI valve, throughthe mounting I I2 is connected to the vent I I3 and is provided with an`armature II5, having a `stem I I6 which engages the head ||1 anddepresses valve ||9 against spring A|| 8 sothat when the magnet I isenergized valve I I9 is open andthe Siphon tube is vented to break theSiphon. Mag` `process is stepped up until sucient air is ex. haustedfrom thetube so thatupon cooling the when the liquid rises in tank 23 toreach this` bulb, through pipe |28, raises diaphragm |29 to close thecircuit at |3I. 'Ihecontroller |3| `and the controller |24 are connectedin series so that when both of these controllers are operated at thesame time, magnet` is energized, but Vwhen either one is energizedandthe other deenergized- .the magnet remains deenergized. Whenfdesired,`controller |3| may be shunted by themanually operated `switch |33 andcontroller |24 may` be shunted bythe manually `operated switch |34. Theelectric controlled `valve for breaking the is screwed; Thistube makesthe eXpansioncham-- l ber of the siphon `and is surrounded by the heat?Thereceiving en d of the `Siphon tube |2is im.- `niersedfinthe liquid.|60 inthe tank I3 so that both ends of the tube are normally sealed.The Siphon may be` controlledl by the controlpipe 4|. l

` The Siphon tube` I I is provided with the eXpan-T sion chamber |31,connected by a screw head |38 `andnipple I4 to pipe'll and by the bottomscrew `head |39 to the pipe `|6I.

surrounded by a spool |40 upon which the coil |4| is wound and by'circuit |42 switchcontroller |43 and contacts |44 the coil |4|1is`energized by `The switch controller |43 is time controlled by theplunger |41, operating in the dash pot |48,` against spring |49 andoperated bythe stem |46 When the stem |46 is depressed the circuit isestablished at |44 and coil I4| is energized from the source |45.` l Theelectric energy in coil |4| heats the walls of the expansion chamber |31and; therebyheats the air in the siphontube which air is sealedl in this`tube but may escape l i through the liquid ateither end. `This heatingSiphon will be started. f'Ihe timev necessary to secure this resultmaybe obtained by the dash `pot control of |43 which slowly restorestothe open circuit position under the action of spring The constructionin Figs. 11 and 12 correspond to Fig. 10,`except that a valve is used toclose the lower end of theexpansion chamber under the action of theheatffrom the electric coil and after I the valve is closed the air isheated and expanded from the siphon. C This comprises a head |52 intowhich thetube `|5| is screwedv `at the top `and a corresponding head I53 into` which the lower end of tube |5`| ing coil |54 which "isconnected to a suitable source of `electric current;

the tube |5| and preferably in contact `with this tube. These legs areconnected at the bottom by the crossbars |56 and are linked at` |58 withthe `Siphon provides already means for stopping the siphon ilow from anyremote point.

The chamber |31 isl Screwed to the head i |52 at |58 are the arcuatelegs |51 sliding within valve et55'which closes Athe lowerend ufthezsiphon tube.

The legs .45.1 .zare secured at the top `only and arefreeto slide Withinthe tube |5-I.. 'I'hese vlegs :are .made of a Amaterial -Whichl'ia-s iamuch. greater1 cceiiicent vof vexpansion lthan `the tube .1.511, for

` instance, .the tube 45.1 may be made :of :iron and the legs :|51 Amaybe Lniade'of copper, fso'thatzthe :copper legs {eXpand much 'more.rapidly than :the

tube `:|5\I .and thereby .close :the Valve 1,55 :by the :initial:heating `of the lcoil, after which fthe .coil ..operates'to=heat .andexpand vthefair in the Siphon ltube. 'herelease'of the v.air starts thesiphonand :the 'liquidiirom tank :l 3 :accelerates .the :cooling of thelegs '|51 which `opens .the valve 1.65 and per-- mits fthesiphontoflowafter the currenthas been disconnected from coil |54.

.This .type :of starting nnechanism .may be used `en isiphons except.those where .heat .cannot be applied to the .siphonztuba Having thus.described myinventionfi claim:

.1. Inra siphon systemen.uppertankcontaining la .liquid, va receivertank, a siphon tube connect- 4ing said .tanks for :the iloW of theliquid .and a bell, on the discharge `end of said Siphon and sealed asthe liquid rises in the receiver tank, 'whereby the air Apressure insaid `bell opposes the flow of the siphon.

2. In a Siphon system an upper tank containing Aa liquid, a receivertank-asiphonftubeconnect- :ing said tanks for the =flow of the liquidand a bell on *the discharge end of said siphon and sealed as the*liquid yrises in the receiver tank whereby the air pressure entrappedin Asaid v'bell balances the flow of the-Siphon and maintains apredetermined .level-of liquid in the receiverftank. Inra siphonsystem,4anfupper tank. containing a liquid, za receiver tank, ,a Siphon tubeconnect- ,iingsaid tanks rior the ilow of the liquid, a Abell .tube ".onvthe ydischarge `end lof Ysaid Siphon and sealed as'theliquid rises inthe receiver tank'to balance the owof "the .siphon by theyair pressure.entrapped `rin said bell anda liquid trap=con lbell andan air sealconnecting said siphon tube withsaid bell-tube.

' 5. -Inafsiphonsysteman upper .tankcontaining 4--a iliquid, :a=receiver 'tank,.a Siphon tnbefconnecting said 'tanks for :the flow:ofthe liquid, 1.a 'hell `on :the discharge `end of said Siphon and:sealed by the ,rise .of `the liquid the `receiver tank, .fand

"tlla'rlsatngmeans Yoperated "by the air pressure Vin .said tbell. .l

6. In a Siphon system, aniupper tank containing .a liquid, areceiyrztank, a Siphon ytube connectzing said tanks-for the flow of the liquid,af-'bell on Ithe .discharge end of said Siphon and sealed by the liquidin `the receiving tank, and means whereby a lpredetermined air ypressureLin `saidbell balancesthe flow of said Siphon, and translating 4means.connected with said bell and operated by "Said air pressure.

MATTHEW H. 'LOUGHRIDGE

